The first and second grade class performed “The Little Red Hen” on the evening of Thursday, April 11. Pulling off a stage production is a lot of hard work for this age group! Students begin by learning parts—which helps develop reading skills—and music two months before the performance. Rehearsal times are short to begin with, but during the week of the production, full rehearsals take place figuring out how the whole performance flows on stage with microphones.
Performing helps build confidence. A first grader said, “The play went well. I was nervous, but it went better than I thought it would. It was fun.” Students who may struggle a little with reading or other classroom skills really come into themselves when they get the chance to shine in front of an audience. A second grader said, “The Little Red Hen play was awesome! I can’t believe it is so fun being the Miller.”
Vista Ridge Academy aims for students to strengthen each area of development during their time in elementary school. 
Giving students a voice through drama and music allows them to develop public speaking skills, memorization, and self- confidence.
This year, some parents brought in baked goods that were auctioned off to raise money for 1st and 2nd grade projects and supplies. The auction brought in over $1,200.
Written by Marsha Bartulec and Becky De Oliveira, photos by Greg Floyd.
Vista Ridge Academy had a great turnout for its first-ever 9Health Fair, hosted at the school on Friday, September 28, from 7:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Nearly 150 guests participated in a wide variety of health services, including blood chemistry tests, BMI checks, developmental milestones for children, flu shots, and screenings for rheumatoid arthritis and stress.
These included Boulder, Chapel Haven, Twin Peaks churches, Vista Ridge Academy staff, parents and student volunteers—many of whom were on site as early as 5 a.m.
ak is a mixed blessing. Every year as school winds down, I so look forward to the blessings of summer: the warm, sunny days; our family vacation; activities like camping, swimming, and hiking; and generally spending more time with my family. But as fun as summer is, it can also be a time of complacency, bickering, laziness, and mess as our family spends more time around the house and with each other enjoying some days of just doing “nothing”. Sometimes to avoid the “nothing” of summer, and the inevitable boredom and academic back-sliding, we parents can intentionally fill the summer months with activities geared toward keeping our kids busy. There have been years that, in an effort to make sure we didn’t waste our summer, I have gotten to the end and
felt like we didn’t get a break. I want my children to enjoy their summer, but I also want it to be a productive time and a time for making memories. When they return to the classroom on their first day of the new school year and their teachers ask them “What did you do this summer?” I never want them to say, “Nothing.”
Officers Alary and Thoen decided on Selfless Respect for Others using a play on words with SRO (School Resource Officer). The purpose of the event is to recognize the students that do good things in and outside of school by showing selfless respect for others in everything that they do.
After the students received their certificates, Officer Alary offered for the students to see their police cars.
